Stories

Trump judge pick has no trial experience

Evan Vucci / AP

A Trump nominee to be a federal judge in Alabama, Brett J. Talley, has only practiced law for 3 years, never tried a case and was rated "not qualified" by the American Bar Association, the L.A. Times reports. Talley opponents said he has some of the least experience ever seen for a nomination. Conservatives say the ABA is a biased rater of judges.

Talley is 36, has a Harvard Law degree and had clerked for 2 federal judges. In writings he denounced "Hillary Rotten Clinton" and pledged support for the NRA, the paper reported. His nomination was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee last week, sending him to the full Senate for consideration.

Why it matters: Appointing federal judges can be a president's most consequential act as they remain on the bench long after a presidency is over. The Alliance for Justice, a group that has opposed Trump nominees, says Trump is filling judicial jobs much faster than his predecessor.